📢 Updates to the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) and Median wage 🇳🇿

📢 Great News for Educators! Primary Teachers Now on the Straight to Residence Pathway – Effective 26 March 2025 🇳🇿

📢 FREE Webinar: Your Journey from Study to Residency in New Zealand! – 8 March 2025 🎓 🇳🇿

In December 2024, the Government announced reforms to the AEWV to make the settings more flexible and responsive to the differing needs of businesses in certain sectors and regions. 

As a result of this, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) will be rolling out a number of changes over the course of 2025.

Phase 2 of these changes are as follows:

Remove the median wage requirement from AEWV and Specific Purpose Work Visa (SPWV) 

✅ From 10 March 2025, employers recruiting workers under the AEWV and seasonal SPWV policies will no longer be required to pay the median wage. Instead, there will be no set pay thresholds except the New Zealand minimum wage (currently NZD $23.15 an hour, increasing to NZD $23.50 an hour on 1 April). 

✅ Employers will, however, still be expected to pay migrant workers on par with their New Zealand counterparts (the New Zealand market rate). 

✅ Sector Agreements which provided an exemption to the median wage will be removed alongside this change. Sector Agreements which offer residence pathways will continue to do so, with no changes to the wage rate required to gain residence. 

✅ The removal of sector agreements means that roles previously covered by sector agreements for below-median wage jobs are no longer subject to restrictions such as caps or limitations on visa duration and instead will be treated the same as other jobs of the same skill level. 

✅ Current AEWV holders should continue to be paid in line with their employment agreement and visa conditions.

Reducing the work experience requirement for migrants from 3 years to 2 years

From 10 March 2025, the work experience requirement for migrants will be reduced from 3 years to 2 years. 

✅ Employers still have to check that their migrant worker meets the threshold, and applicants will still need to provide evidence that they meet the 2-year threshold. 
✅ This change will still ensure that migrants have enough experience to help minimize the risks of exploitation.

Amending the requirement for employers to engage with the Ministry of Social Development (MSD)

From 10 March 2025, the requirement for employers to engage with the MSD will now become declaration-based. 

✅ Employers will need to declare in good faith that they have advertised lower-skilled roles (ANZSCO skill level 4 and 5) with MSD and interviewed candidates who may be suitable for the role. 

✅ Employers will be required to retain evidence of their engagement as they may be requested to provide it. 

✅ This can be done alongside recruitment employers will already be undertaking in the domestic labour market.

Increasing the visa duration for ANZSCO Level 4 and 5 AEWV holders to 3 years

From 10 March 2025, the visa length for new ANZSCO Level 4 and 5 AEWVs will be extended to 3 years, matching the total time they can stay in New Zealand on one or more AEWVs (their maximum continuous stay). 

Increasing the income threshold for supporting dependent children

From 10 March 2025, the income threshold will be increased from NZD $43,322.76 to NZD $55,844. 

✅ This is 80% of the median wage (aligning with eligibility for partner work rights) based on an annual, 40-hour work week. 

✅ The previous income threshold will continue to apply where a child held a visa on, or had applied for a visa, before 10 March – ensuring that children already in New Zealand do not have to leave if their parent meets the old threshold but cannot meet the new one.

Recognition of higher ANZSCO skill levels

With INZ transitioning from the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) to the National Occupation List (NOL), some roles have changed classifications. 

✅ From 10 March 2025, the following occupations will be treated as ANZSCO skill level 3 to align with their skill level in the NOL:

• Cook (351411)

• Pet groomer (361113)

• Kennel hand (361115)

• Nanny (421113)

• Fitness instructor (452111)

• Scaffolder (821712)

• Slaughterer (831212)

Additionally, 4 other roles will be recognized as ANZSCO skill level 3 where the employer has specified that the job requires 3 years of work experience or a Level 4 qualification as part of the job check. 

These roles are:

• Agricultural and horticultural mobile plant operator (721111)

• Excavator operator (721214)

• Forklift driver (721311)

• Mobile plant operators not elsewhere classified (721999)

Updates to interim visa work rights

In April 2025, further changes will take effect regarding work rights for individuals on interim visas awaiting the outcome of an AEWV application. These include:

• Allowing AEWV applicants to have interim work rights if they apply while holding any type of work visa or from a student visa that permits work during term time.

• Enabling time spent on an interim visa that allows work to count towards a migrant's total continuous stay under the AEWV, as well as for gaining work experience needed for work-to-residence pathways.

Median wage changes

From 28 February 2025:

• AEWV holders who wish to support a partner will need to meet the wage threshold, increasing to NZD $26.85 an hour.

• Income thresholds for Parent Category sponsors will be indexed to the new median wage of NZD $33.56 an hour.

Source: INZ

📢 Primary Teachers Added to Straight to Residence Pathway – Effective 26 March 2025 🇳🇿

The New Zealand Government has announced that from 26 March 2025, 👩‍🏫 Primary Teachers will be added to the Straight to Residence pathway under the 🟢 Green List.

This update aims to address teacher shortages 📉, especially in Auckland and Northland. Previously, primary teachers were on the Work to Residence pathway, requiring additional time before becoming eligible for residency. Now, with this change, eligible teachers can apply for residency immediately ✅ upon receiving a job offer 💼—even from offshore ✈️.

This policy change takes effect on 26 March 2025, offering a faster and more accessible residency pathway for primary educators! 🎉

Source: INZ

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